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Now that the kids are back to school and life is starting to get back to normal, it’s time to start thinking about direct marketing for the holidays. Too early? Feel’s like it, but November and December are going to be here before you know it. You don’t want to miss out on the most profitable time of the year because you Holiday Direct Marketingstarted planning your direct marketing campaigns too late. Whether you have a brick-and-mortar store or have an online business, the holiday season is the perfect time to plan a direct marketing campaign and great opportunity to generate sales.

Still not convinced? How about this: 40% of consumers say they start shopping before October 31st and as a result, 49% of direct marketers say they are planning to launch their holiday marketing campaigns by mid-October.

Customers are beginning their holiday preparations earlier and earlier every year. Black Friday and Cyber Monday have only encouraged that trend. They have become so mainstream, that what started as 2 days of savings has morphed into a 4 day Cyber Weekend, which in turn, has transformed into a whole Cyber Week. It starts a few days before Black Friday and ending a few days after Cyber Monday.

Even though shoppers are now getting a whole week of savings, Black Friday is still the king of the castle when it comes to pre-holiday shopping. Whether you are planning an email blast or a direct mail campaign, make sure your Black Friday campaigns contain the biggest and best promotions you can offer this holiday season.

Don’t stop at Black Friday and Cyber Monday. They are just the precursor for the main round. After the dust settles from Cyber Week, you can really focus your direct marketing efforts on Christmas.

Your Christmas marketing doesn’t have to be elaborate and expensive. A simple card is the perfect way to show your appreciation to your existing clients. Christmas is also the perfect time to introduce yourself to new clients. With an email or mailing list of new prospects, you can make a powerful and personal impact this year by sending a simple Season Greetings and business card.

After Christmas, start the New Year off with a bang. Our favorite saying is New Year, New List. It’s always nice to start the year off right, with a direct marketing campaign focused on recruiting new prospects. The New Year is the perfect time to start thinking about testing new mailing lists. Changing or simply updating your target market will breathe life into your stagnant direct marketing campaign.

Whether it’s an email campaign or a direct mail campaign you plan on sending, remember, colossal amounts of emails and mail get sent out over the holiday season. You don’t want to risk your email or mail piece getting lost in the chaos. The earlier you get it out the more chance you have of it being opened. If possible, try a combination of both direct mail and email. Repetition is so important in direct marketing. The more you can get your offer in front of your prospects, the more successful your direct marketing campaign is going to be.

The holiday season is the perfect opportunity to give one last boost to your annual sales before year end. Though the holidays are still ways away, having a solid direct marketing plan will help you benefit from the entire holiday season.

With the right direct marketing list, launching a successful direct mail or email campaign during the holidays is simple, cost-effective and a powerful way to boost business. If you start planning early enough, you’ll have everything already in place once the holidays start, and you be able to enjoy the holiday season while celebrating your successes!